The Washington Irving Memorial was commissioned in 1926, sculpted by Daniel Chester French, the architect was Charles Platt Adams, it was cast at the Gorham Manufacturing Company, and fabricated by Piccirilli Brothers Marble Carving Studios. It was dedicated on June 27, 1927, rededicated June 27, 1977 and rededicated once again on October 25, 1998.
A bronze plaque at ground level is inscribed:
WASHINGTON IRVING MEMORIAL
WASHINGTON IRVING WAS THE FIRST OF EARLY AMERICA'S GREAT
AUTHORS. THIS MONUMENT IS A TESTAMENT TO NOT ONLY TO IRVING, BUT
ALSO TO THE IMAGINATION AND TENACITY OF JENNY PRINCE BLACK, A
PROMINENT IRVINGTON CITIZEN, WHO WORKED FOR YEARS TO MAKE
IT A REALITY. IT ALSO MANIFESTS THE ARTISTRY OF SCULPTOR
DANIEL CHESTER FRENCH, THE CREATOR OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL.
AMONG OTHER PROMINENT WORKS. THE ARCHITECT FOR THE IRVING
MONUMENT WAS FRENCH'S LONGTIME COLLABORATOR, CHARLES PLATT
ADAMS. THE LAND WAS DONATED BY HENRY GRAVES, JR. MRS. BLACK LED
THE FUND-RAISING, WHICH RANGED FROM A GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION
BY JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, JR. TO PENNIES FROM SCHOOL CHILDREN.
THE MONUMENT WAS COMPLETED AND DEDICATED IN 1927. AFTER
MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF CORROSION, THE MONUMENT WAS RESTORED BY
IRVING LANDMARK PRESERVATION, INC., WITH SUPPORT FROM
THE VILLAGE OF IRVINGTON AND FROM SAVE OUTDOOR SCULPTURE OF
WASHINGTON D.C. THE MONUMENT WAS REDEDICATED IN A VILLAGE
CEREMONY IN 1998. AS A MASTERPIECE OF DANIEL CHESTER FRENCH,
IT IS LISTED ON THE NEW YORK STATE AND NATIONAL REGISTER OF
HISTORIC PLACES.
IRVINGTON LANDMARK PRESERVATION, INC.
In the center of a curved pink granite wall a pedestal holds a 34 by 32 by 13 inch bronze bust of Washington Irving. On Irving's right side is a 6' high bronze relief sculpture of Boabdil on Irving's left side is a 6' high bronze relief sculpture of Rip Van Winkle.
Irving is depicted wearing a coat and an ascot tie. Boabdil shown in 3/4 profile facing Irving. He is wearing a long robed garment, boots and a pointed cap. He holds a sword which is hung from his left side. Rip Van Winkle is shown in 3/4 profile facing Irving. He is wearing a ragged long coat and wide-brimmed hat. He holds a rifle vertically by the barrel with his left hand.
On pedestal below the bust of Irving is the inscription in bronze letters:
WASHINGTON
IRVING
1783-1859
ESSAYIST POET
HISTORIAN TRAVELLER
DIPLOMATIST SOLDIER
THE FIRST AUTHOR OF
OUR REPUBLIC
Below the relief of Boabdil is inscribed in bronze letters:
BOABDIL
THE LAST KING OF GRANADA
Below relief on Rip Van Winkle is inscribed in bronze letters:
RIP VAN WINKLE
THE DREAMER OF THE KAATSKILLS
Chronological works of Washington Irving
Letters of Jonathan Oldstyle
Salmagundi
A History of New York (Satire)
The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.
Bracebridge Hall
Tales of a Traveller
A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus
Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada (History)
Voyages and Discoveries of the Companions of Columbus
Tales of the Alhambra
The Crayon Miscellany
Astoria
The Adventures of Captain Bonneville
The Life of Oliver Goldsmith
Biography and Poetical Remains
of the Late Margaret Miller Davidson
Lives of Mahomet and His Successors
Wolfert's Roost
Diedrich Knickerbocker
The Life of George Washington (5 volumes)